Opinion

• Hewlett-Packard’s “racist” webcam worries

  Hewlett-Packard could have very easily made it onto Mumbrella’s Marketing Disasters of the Year list, if the debacle over its ‘contrast’ sensitive webcam had hit Australia.    Read more »

• Eight big ambitions every marketer must have in 2010

  Few would argue with the fact that the world has changed dramatically in the last 12 months. However, because Australia has been spared the worst excesses of the GFC, I feel there is a creeping complacency amongst Australian marketers.    Read more »

• Marketing disasters: Westpac’s monkey business tops 2009 list

  It’s been a big year of marketing disasters for some unfortunate brands, with Westpac taking the mantle as the biggest loser in Mumbrella’s top ten list of the year’s Biggest Marketing Disasters, thanks to its patronising comparison of the price of bananas with its hike in interest rates.   Read more »

• Online revolution changed the media game

  How the rise of online media, the growing profitability of pay TV operator Foxtel, the death of Kerry Packer and the relaxation of media ownership restrictions drove much of the corporate activity of the past 10 years.

  The Australian’s James Chessell

• The news the TV regulator didn’t want you to notice?

  It’s always instructive to see what gets sneaked out on the last Friday before Christmas, particularly when the press release drops at lunchtime. If ever you want to know what the powers-that-be hope will fly under the radar, then that’s a great indicator.   Read more »

• The Lord’s teaser campaign

  In this guest posting, Andrew Wilson contemplates what marketing can learn from the Christmas story.

  In the little town of Nazareth, an agent of the Lord appeared to Mary. It said unto her, “Blessed are you, for you have been chosen to implement the Lord’s vertical integration strategy. You shall do so by bringing forth a line extension of the family of David.”   Read more »

• A whale called Mr Splashy Pants

  Here’s a great piece from Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian describing the birth of an internet meme.

  In a rapid-fire presentation to TED, he explains how Greenpeace was forced to name one of the humpback whales they were tracking Mr Splashy Pants.   Read more »

• Where there’s smoke there’s no fire for McDonald’s outdoor ad

  Innovative outdoor advertising can work in one of two ways – grab your attention and interest, or in the case of one unfortunate McDonald’s ad, it can make you want to run away.   Read more »

• How Saatchi & Saatchi’s Toyota social media disaster unfolded

  Toyota’s now disastrous foray into social media offers a demonstration of what skills an agency needs to play in that space.   Read more »

• Who will protect us from Saatchi & Saatchi?

  “You know what’s needed? Some kind of process — or filter — that can protect decent, hard-working Australians from Social Media campaigns and saucy internet videos.”

  Fake Stephen Conroy enters the Toyota debate

• Best Job achieved our objectives – and then some

  Last week, Mumbrella readers voted the Best Job in the World project Australia’s social media campaign of the year. In this guest posting, Tourism Queensland boss Anthony Hayes explains the objectives and achievments behind the campaign

  I got hit by a Sydney taxi a couple of months ago, so lately I’ve had some bonus free time to read Mumbrella on a very regular basis. Read more »

• Sharks off Bondi

  Here’s a nice piece of digital work highlighting the risk of sharks off Bondi Beach.   Read more »

• Future of journalism belongs to the bold

  We are at a time when many news enterprises are shutting down or scaling back. No doubt you will hear some tell you that journalism is in dire shape, and the triumph of digital is to blame. My message is just the opposite.

  Rupert Murdoch, The Australian

• Burger King’s breakfast push leaves a bad taste

  I’ve always rated Burger King as something of an interesting brand when it comes to marketing. Think Subservient Chicken and the meat-scented cologne, Flame.   Read more »

• My life as a sick stunt

  “This,” announced a slightly awed friend and colleague, “is possibly the most non-scandalous scandal I have ever been involved in.”

  The ABC’s Marieke Hardy falls foul of the Daily Telegraph’s slow news day